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2019-05-17

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<p>If a claimant meets the conditions for an advance we aim to make the payment within
72 hours. However, an advance can be paid on the same day the claimant applies if
they or their household would suffer genuine hardship if they had to wait 72 hours
for the payment.</p><p>Applications for a Universal Credit advance payment can be
made in person, by telephone or online depending on the claimant’s circumstances.
Depending on the type of advance payment application, we will consider whether the
claimant satisfies the eligibility conditions for receiving the advance. If the claimant
is eligible we will agree the amount of the advance and the period over which the
advance will be recovered from their future Universal Credit payments. The outcome
of the application is explained to the claimant and their online journal updated.</p>

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether universal credit claimants
are able to deduct the tax relief claimed by relief at source pension schemes from
their earned income figure to calculate their award of universal credit.

<p>100% of contributions to employer pension schemes, whether Net or Relief at Source
pensions, will be taken into account when calculating the level of employed earnings
in UC. This means that a UC claimant that contributes to either type of pension will,
automatically (where employers report the information correctly), have their UC entitlement
calculated on their taxable pay, after their pension contribution. This ensures fairness
for all affected UC employed claimants.</p><p> </p><p>If there is some discrepancy
in the way in which it’s reported, DWP will manually ensure that the Relief at Source
pension contribution is deducted before any UC entitlement is calculated on their
employed earnings.</p>

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports showing
a 23 per cent increase in demand for food parcels between 2017 and 2019 at Somer Valley foodbank,
Somerset; and what assessment they have made of the reasons for any such increase.

<p>The Government does not collect official data on the use of food banks, therefore
has not made such assessments.</p><p>We have worked with food insecurity experts,
the Office for National Statistics and the Scottish Government to introduce a new
set of food security questions in the Family Resources Survey starting from April
2019. This means that we will in future be able to monitor the prevalence and severity
of household food insecurity across the UK and for specific groups, to better understand
the drivers of food insecurity and identify which groups are most at risk.</p>

<p>Entitlement to Universal Credit (UC) takes into account individual claimant circumstances,
such as income, savings, assets and living arrangements. Should a claimant be held
under the Mental Health Act 1983 they may not be eligible for UC.</p><p> </p><p>All
claimants, including those who with mental health conditions, receive continuous tailored
support through their personal work coaches, and all Departmental staff working with
claimants complete extensive training that prepares them for their role. Specific
training is provided for working with different vulnerable groups, with guidance to
signpost claimants to relevant support, and these circumstances will be recorded on
a claimant’s online account.</p>

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure
that all medical assessors for (a) disability living allowance and (b) personal independence
payment are medical professionals.

<p>For Disability Living Allowance, information about care and/or mobility needs is
submitted on a claim form, supported by medical reports where necessary, which allows
the department’s case managers to determine entitlement and make award decisions.</p><p>
</p><p>Health Professionals that carry out Personal Independence Payment assessments
on behalf of the department must have the following qualifications and experience:</p><p>
</p><ul><li>are an occupational therapist, nurse (level 1), physiotherapist, doctor
or paramedic</li><li>fully registered with the relevant licensing body (doctors must
have a licence to practise)</li><li>the licensing body has not placed restrictions
on the health professional's registration. In individual cases, this requirement may
be wavered subject to prior written agreement with the department.</li><li>at least
2 years post full registration experience or less than 2 years post full registration
experience by specific agreement with the department,</li><li>have passed a Disclosure
and Barring Service (DBS) check.</li></ul><p> </p><p>Health Professionals are subject
to a rigorous recruitment process followed by a comprehensive training programme in
disability assessment for both physical and mental health conditions and have to be
approved by the department. Health Professionals are then required to complete a programme
of continuing professional development.</p>

<p>The Department recognises that carers provide invaluable support for relatives,
partners and friends who may be ill, frail or disabled. As such, there is an additional
amount of benefit payable in Universal Credit to support carers who provide care of
35 hours or more each week for a severely disabled person. For claimants who meet
these requirements an additional 160.20 per month is included in their Universal Credit
entitlement for caring.</p><p> </p><p>Carer’s Allowance is also available to provide
a measure of financial support for those who give up full-time employment to care
for a severely disabled person for at least 35 hours a week. The rate of Carer’s Allowance
has increased from £53.90 in 2010 to £66.15 a week, meaning an additional £635 a year
for carers since 2010.</p>

<p>The Government recognises that childcare costs can affect parents’ decisions to
take up paid work or increase their working hours. We are committed to helping parents
into work.</p><p> </p><p>To overcome this barrier to employment, Universal Credit
claimants are able to claim up to 85 per cent of their childcare costs, compared to
70% on the legacy system. This can be claimed up to a month before starting a job,
and can be worth up to £13,000 a year for families with two children.</p><p> </p><p>Over
the last few months we have been trialling a more flexible approach to parents who
do not report their childcare costs on time. Following a successful pilot, we are
now updating our guidance, so that Work Coaches have more flexibility and discretion
to support parents’ claims for this essential service.</p><p> </p><p>The Universal
Credit childcare policy also aligns with the wider government childcare offer, which
includes free childcare hours and tax free childcare.</p>

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what progress she has made on
providing transitional Severe Disability Payment under the Universal Credit (Managed
Migration Pilot and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2019.

<p>The Department doesn’t maintain records on the number of food bank users. People
can be referred to a food bank through a range of local referral partners. Although
Jobcentre staff can also signpost claimants in writing to a food bank in line with
national guidance, they are not required to maintain records on whether a customer
has been issued with a signposting slip. As part of their wider community outreach
work, Jobcentre managers can work with food banks in their area if they are invited
to do so, to ensure that people are receiving all the support they are entitled to.</p>